The Jockey Club brings back former commercial chief as interim CEO
Charlie Boss named as Nevin Truesdale’s replacement while the horseracing body continues the search for a permanent successor
The Jockey Club has named its former chief commercial officer (CCO) Charlie Boss as the body’s interim CEO while the hunt for Nevin Truesdale’s permanent successor continues.
Boss will rejoin The Jockey Club on 9 December before taking over from Truesdale on an interim basis from 19 December.
In June, Truesdale announced his intention to step down before the end of 2024 after more than 11 years with the organisation.
Boss returns to The Jockey Club having served as CCO between March 2021 and April 2023.
He then moved to Southampton FC to take up the same role with the now-Premier League club.
Boss currently sits on the board of London Sport and is part of the sports steering group for the NSPCC.
Prior to joining The Jockey Club in 2021, Boss spent eight years with ESPN across two roles, originally as head of marketing, commercial and strategy from November 2013.
Then, in April 2018, he was shifted to commercial director and general manager for sports for ESPN’s parent company, The Walt Disney Company.
Here, his remit expanded to include Disney’s entire sports portfolio in Europe and Africa.
Speaking on his return to the Jockey Club as interim CEO, Boss said: “For me, racing remains a cherished and important part of British life. Not only is it an industry which contributes more than £4bn to the British economy, it is the UK’s second-most attended sport.
“My time as chief commercial officer at The Jockey Club was one of the most enjoyable, challenging and rewarding of my career and I am both proud and excited to be returning to The Jockey Club as interim group chief executive.
“I very much look forward to working with The Jockey Club’s fantastic teams again and with stakeholders across the sport, some of whom I already know and others I am yet to meet.”
Baroness Dido Harding, The Jockey Club’s senior steward, added: “We are delighted to welcome Charlie back to The Jockey Club as interim group chief executive.
“He did an outstanding job as a member of The Jockey Club’s executive team, which led the organisation through the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19, and those who worked with him will know him to be an extremely talented and high energy commercial leader.”
On the fact Boss has been brought in as an interim CEO, Harding added: “We have always been clear that finding the right person for the role was the most important priority, rather than appointing by a certain date.
“We are making good progress in this search but with most senior leaders at this level having substantial notice periods, appointing an interim CEO ensures that the organisation has clear leadership in place as we go into the busiest time of the year.”
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.